From: nobody (Anonymous)
Newsgroups: alt.censorship,can.general,rec.arts.tv,comp.org.eff.talk,can.infohighway,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: Canada censors children's show
Date: 1 Nov 1994 20:27:38 -0600
Organization: J. P. and Associates
Lines: 36
Sender: remailer@jpunix.com
Message-ID: <396teq$svl@jpunix.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Comments: This message did not originate from the above address.
It was automatically remailed by an anonymous mail service.
Please report inappropriate use to
NOTE: Mail to nobody is sent to /dev/null
Finger remailer@jpunix.com for remailer help.
Finger kserver@jpunix.com for PGP keyserver help.
CBC TV News reports today (01nov94) that Canadian TV networks, YTV and Global,
will ban broadcast of the children's show "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers".
The cartoon-like show depicts the costumed heroes kicking and punching
various villains. The CBC newsreader wondered, jokingly, whether
professional wrestling would be banned next.
In Canada, TV broadcasting companies fended off government regulation (i.e.,
censorship) by forming the CBSA (Canadian Broadcaster's Standards Association)
which establishes voluntary guidelines for content of TV shows.
Early in this year, the CBSA refined their guidelines regarding
sex and violence.
After reviewing 10 episodes of ".. Power Rangers", the CBSA found
it violated the guidelines. If members fail to ban the show (or convince
its producer to change its content [fat chance]), then they get
kicked out of the Association.
Many parents applaud the move, although cynics comment that such parents
rely upon regulation too heavily and don't pay enough attention to
their children's TV selections.
It should be noted that Canadian children will *not* be shielded from
the evils of ".. Power Rangers" since the show is carried on the American
FOX network, which is unaffected by CBSA guidelines.
There is something spooky about an industry imposing self-censorship
in order to avoid government censorship.
It is perhaps a uniquely Canadian notion that one should not
push too hard at the limits of one's freedom of expression
because the government may soon tell you where those limits are.
Sadly, staying well clear of those limits even further infringes upon
that vital freedom.